Spirit-level.



Patented May 26, 1. 14.

awumdozfi 9 Hmos w- KlBLEf-Z JOHN J. PeNNm p'roN x. D V MX FIIFI .Y

wil rv l i! A. W. KIBLER & J. J. PENNINGTON.

SPIRIT LEVEL. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1914.

my f LVMwawm 'uNitrED STATES 15 mm OFFICE.

AMOS w. KIBLER AND JOHN J. rnunme'ron, or BUTTE, MONTANA.

SPIRIT-LEVEL.

Be it known that we, AMos W. Knxnsr. and JOHN J. PENNINo'roN, citizensof the United States, residing at Butte, in the county of Silverbow andState of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpirit-Levels, of which the following 15 a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relatcsto certain new and useful improvements in levelsof that character commonly used by lasterers, carpenters, machinists,and other mechanics, the

invention having for its primary object to provide means forilluminating a level glass whereby the position'of the spirit bulb may.be. readily discerned when the device is used in dark corners and otherplaces where the natural light is imperfect.

Our invention has for another and more specific object toprovide a levelof the,

above character provided with a plurality of bulb tubes, a batterymounted in the body of the level, electric light bulbs locatedcontiguous -to the several tubes and in electrical connection with saidbattery,

and a push button to close the battery circuit. I

The invention has for another objectto produce a device of the abovecharacter which is comparatively simple in its con- SlZIllCtlOIl, may beinexpensively manufactured and is of great convenience andserviceability in practical use.

\Vith the above and other objects in view aswill become apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions,combinations and arrangements of the parts that we shall hereinafterfullydescribe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawing in whichtigurel is a sideelevation partly in section of a spirit level embodying the pres- .entinvention in its preferred form; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line2-2 of Fig. -1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is anenlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates the body of the levelwhich is constructed of wood and is provided in one edge with a recessor cavity 6. The glass tube 7 in which the mercury bulb is' dis-Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1914.

Appl cation filed January 10, 1914-. Serial No. 811,407.

posed, is arranged over this cavity, the ends,

of said tube being suitably secured in the body 5. A metal plate8"retains said tube in place and is secured at its ends to the wood bodyof the level, said plate being provided with a sight opening 9.

The body of the level is further provided adjacent its opposite endswiththe circular recesses 10 in which the glass tubes 11 are mounted-in anyusual or preferred manner, said tubes extending at right angles to theplane of the tube 7 12 indicates a longitudinally extending bore orpassage the opposite ends of which,

communicate with the respective recesses 10. A central bore 0 passage13-1s also formed in the level body and bisects the passage 12. One endof the passage 13 communicates with the cavity .or recess 6 hereinbeforereferred to while the other end thereof opens upon the oppositeedge ofthe level body as clearly shown in Fig. 1'

of the drawing.' An electric light bulb 14 is located at theintersection of these pas- .sages, said bulb,being mounted upon the lace15 which is countersunk in the edge of the body 5. In one end of thebody 5 of the level, an electric battery 16 is arranged and secured. e

17 designates the positive and negative circuit. wires which areconnected to the cor-' responding poles of the battery 16, and to thefilament of the electric light bulb 14 in the usual manner. The positivecircuit wire is interrupted by a push button switch 18 mounted in oneside of the body of the level.

The body 5 of the level is centrally provided with an elongatedlongitudinally extending slot or groove 19 through the medium of whichaccess may be had to the passages 12 and 13 at their point ofint'ersection, so that the light bulb 14 may be removed and a new oneprovided when necessary. This slot is normally closed by 'a plug 20provided upon its edge with suitable friction packing material 21,whereby the plug is tightly held in place.

From the foregoing description of the construction and arrangement ofthe several parts of the invention, its several advantages in practicaluse are thoughtt be obvious. f,

' When thelevel is employed in dark .corners or other places where thenaturaLlight is very poor, the operator simply presses the push button18 and closes the. circuit of the battery 16, thereby illuminating thelight bulb 14, and this light is conveyed through the passages 12 and 13and diffused through the recesses 6 and 10 and upon the spirit leveltubes 7 and 11 which are arranged therein. Thus the mechanic may clearlydiscern and instantaneously observe the position 'ofthe mercury bulbs inthe several tubes;

- It will be obvious that in view of the extremely simple constructionof the invention, that the same can be embodied inspirit levels atcomparatively small manufacturing cost while at the same time we haveproduced ahighly serviceable, convenient and desirable instrument.

also be obvious that the device issusceptible of many modifications andwe therefore reserve the right of resorting to all such le-' gitimatechanges as may be fairly embodied \vithin-theis pirit and scope oftheinvention, as claimed: l

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: v

A device otthe character described comprising a body provided with alongitudinal bore and having recesses in'communication with such bore atthe opposite extremities thereof,-said body having a second borethcrethrcugh and intersecting the first bore at a point intermediate therecesses, level tubes of transparent materia positioned Within therecesses and intersecting the first bore, a similar tube disposed acrossone extremity of the second bore, a-

plate for closing the opposite extremity of such second bore, a lampsocket carried by such plate and directed inwardly of such second boreand terminating wit-bin the intersecting portion of the longitudinalbore and the second bore, a source of electrical supply carried by thebody and electrically connected with side thereof being provided with arecess registering with the intersecting portionot 'theborcs, a lumpengaged with such socket and :l(l21]')tt(l to illuminate such bores, anda block for closing the recess in the side of the body.

In testimony whereof we hereunto ailix mu signatures in the presence oftwo witnesses. I

AMOS W. KIBLER.

JOHN J. PEUNINGTON.

Witnesses: Bun'roN ll. CLARK An'ruuu D. CLARK.

the socket, such body in a

